Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3711: Vin Scully calls Kirk Gibson's legendary walk-off homer during Game 1 of the 1988 World Series - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today Vin Scully called his last game. "His 67 seasons with the Dodgers (1950–2016) is the longest time any broadcaster has been with a single team in professional sports history". Scully announced many an amazing baseball moment - and the Dodgers fans voted one in particular (included in the video above) as their collective favorite.

There were two outs in the bottom of the ninth in the first game of the 1988 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers were one run down against the Oakland A's. After Oakland pitcher Dennis Eckersley walked Mike Davis, the Dodgers' manager - Tommy Lasorda, put the injured Kirk Gibson (who had not been in the game or even been introduced at it's start) for Dave Anderson. Gibson took the count to 3-2 before knocking Ekersley's backdoor slider over the right field fence to win the game.

As with any scenario with high emotional content, there's many nonverbal moments worthy of dissection. One of the most striking in this video however, is seen at 9:24 in the above video, when Dennis Eckersley looks to the stands where Gibson blasted his pitch, with what in body language terminology is referred to as a "Thousand Yard Stare". Simultaneously, his mouth takes on a "Slack Jawed" configuration (Jaw is hanging with not tension, partially opened, with no teeth showing). These two nonverbal signals - especially when clustered together are indicative of Emotional Processing - a clear sign although his intellectual brain knows what's just happened - Eckersley's emotional brain has yet to come to terms with the consequences.

A moment later, during 9:27 - 9:28, Eckersley then rolls his eyes in a very conscious (and deliberate) display of self-disgust/self-contempt.

Thank you Vin Scully (and Kirk Gibson) - for this making this moment, and many, many more, so very memorable.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3710: Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte Compares Himself With Hitler

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3708: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump - Presidential Debates - Part IV - Hillary's Email Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3706: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debates - Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3697: NYC Bombing Suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami in Custody

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3676: Colin Kaepernick Says He Be Sitting Down During the National Anthem

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3632: Hillary Clinton formally introduces Tim Kaine as her VP Choice

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3625: Donald Trump Introduces Mike Pence as his "1st Choice" VP Pick (Not!)



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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3554: Paul Allen, Steph Curry and the "Slack Jaw" - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Paul Allen is the co-founder of Microsoft, the 45th wealthiest person in the World - and the owner of the Portland Trailblazers - yet in this post, we're interested in this nonverbal viral meme (see below) as his reaction to Steph Curry's 4th quarter superman performance. Curry set an NBA record of 17 overtime points in Golden State Warriors victory last night. They lead the series, 3-1.

Today Curry became the only player in NBA history to unanimously win the season's MVP.

Allen's expression here is often confused with the emotion of surprise by nonverbal novices. And although it shares some commonalities with surprise, it's not the equivalent. The key to this distinction is the configuration of Allen's jaw. Note how it's partially opened - but not wide (as with surprise). The colloquial term for this jaw position is "Slack Jawed" or "Mouth Agape". The muscles which open the mouth (masseter, temporalis and internal pterygoid) are relaxed - and the mandible (jaw) just hangs there. It's profoundly important that when this emotion is sincere (e.g., not being feigned) - no teeth are visible.

Notice that his eyelids are also more opened than baseline - but not very widely (versus the eyes of significant surprise). His gaze is fixed at mid-distance - and although that's where Curry and his basketball are, this is another key component of this highly characteristic expression.

Allen's face is that of emotional shock/emotional processing - not surprise. It signals to us that the intellect knows what is happening - but the emotional brain can't (yet) process what's occurring.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3553: Donald Trump, Deception, Facial Touching and Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3550: Robert Downey Jr. Auditions Jimmy Fallon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3536: Prince Explains His Name Change in 1999 Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3525: Kristen Bell Slaps a Reporter On "The Boss" Red Carpet (This was a PR Stunt)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3522: Felicity Jones in New Star Wars Trailer: "Rogue One"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3212: LeBron James stealing ball from Stephen Curry - then pointing at his Temple

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2911: Becky Hammon Part II - Blushing & a High Sincerity Quotient

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